Driver who lashed out at Jeremy Vine has conviction appeal dismissed

A driver found guilty of being threatening and abusive towards the BBC presenter Jeremy Vine as he was cycling has had her appeal against the conviction dismissed.

The confrontation between Shanique Syrena Pearson and the broadcaster in London last summer was captured on his helmet camera and has been viewed online millions of times.

Pearson, 22, threatened to knock out the journalist and screamed insults at him as he cycled home from work to Chiswick in west London.on Tuesday.

Vine said he felt afraid during the altercation. Giving evidence at Isleworth crown court on Tuesday during the appeal hearing, he said: “I felt threatened. I felt I was in danger. I felt I was dealing with a violent person.”

He was cycling on Hornton Street in Kensington, west London, but stopped after being honked at by the driver of a black Vauxhall Corsa behind him.

In the video clip, Pearson, who has previous convictions, can be heard swearing at Vine, who tries to explain he was riding down the centre of the narrow street to avoid car doors.

The defendant admitted using inappropriate language and pushing his bike, which Vine said acted as a shield when she kicked out.

On 1 February at Hammersmith magistrates court Pearson, of Vauxhall, south-west London, was convicted of driving an unlicensed vehicle, driving without reasonable consideration for other road users and using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour.